Emotions make crappy leaders.

Probably one of the most common discussions inside the Christian community has to do with this question: Are emotions good, or are they bad? So, what do you think?

God created us with the ability to feel emotions. This means the ability to emote is good because everything God creates is good. Are you with me so far? But did you know that there really are emotions that are considered “good” and some that are considered “bad?” It’s true, and we’re going to get into what the Bible has to say about good and bad emotions in this episode.

But probably the strongest sound I want to make in today’s episode is this: Emotions are terrible leaders. Seriously. Emotions were never intended to be your guide. They were designed to follow your thoughts and your faith, but you’ve got to intentionally tell them to do that. This means *stewarding* your emotions.

To be a good steward of your life you’re going to have to make a decision to come off of the auto-pilot that keeps you tethered to how you feel all the time, friend. You’re going to have to stop letting the loudest emotion “in the room” call the shots. And you’re going to have to take back the controls of your life so you can fly intentionally. So, how exactly do you do that? I’m glad you asked! We’re talking about all that in this week’s episode, so grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let’s Go!

What you will learn in this episode:

• That how you feel is a choice, and how to make a good choice around the emotions you pick to embrace;
• That there are actually emotions God commands us to embrace (and emotions he tells us to steer clear of);
• The compelling reason why we are so stuck on demanding that our emotions be recognized and “justified” by others (and why we should resist this behavior); and
• Four things you can do right now to effectively stop letting emotions lead your life.

Scripture References mentioned in this episode:

Ephesians 4:26-27 —
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Romans 12:3 —
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Philippians 4:4-8 —
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Links to Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Are you ready to join a faith community that knows how to support each other in our journey towards embracing godly emotions without sliding into codependency? If so, join us inside the REVIVE Online Campus Community (“the ROCC”). Hop into our community group and we’ll see you there as we continue the discussion.

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Erica co-leads a local church alongside her husband, Doug, in Tampa, Florida called REVIVE Church of Tampa. You can visit the church’s website for more information about who we are, what we believe and how we show up as the Church in the heart of West Tampa and beyond.

REVIVE Church of Tampa

REVIVE Church of Tampa streams services live on Friday nights at 7pm ET and Sunday mornings at 11am ET. You can find those livestreams on our church Facebook page:

Live Services – Fridays at 7pm ET and Sundays at 11am ET

If you’re interested in joining the online campus of REVIVE Church of Tampa, you are welcome to join our community group on Facebook where we offer weekly discussion around the Friday and Sunday messages as well as discipleship Zoom groups and the opportunity to host others in your home as you stream services. You can find us here:

The ROCC: REVIVE Online Campus Community

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About this podcast:

Positioned to Prosper is a weekly podcast that covers the ins and outs of what it means to live a lifestyle of breakthrough and victory in your relationships, health, finances and beyond. Your host, Erica Pyle, is no stranger to jumping without the proverbial parachute while maintaining a firm grip on godly wisdom. A self-described slayer of pragmatism and a “walk by faith” kind of girl, Erica is an unabashed believer in the power of God to radically transform lives. Front-footed in faith as she offers straight-up truth, strategies, and wisdom for living victoriously, and equipped with her love for the word of God, her certification as a holistic health coach, and years of experience in personal finance and taxation, Erica is ready to help you get positioned to prosper.